for
Conspicuous Gallantry
in Action during
Operation Urgent Fury
In Grenada(1983)

In
October 1983, revolution broke out in the Caribbean Island of Grenada
when Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard deposed Prime Minister Maurice
Bishop. With Cuban support, Grenadaian rebels fermented anti-American
sentiments that threatened the security of U.S. Citizens on the island,
and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States appealed to the United
States, Barbados, and Jamaica for assistance.

On October 25, U.S. Forces
parachuted onto the island to begin what was ultimately a brief battle
to liberate the people and protect American citizens. Over a period of
several days the American presence grew to 7,000 Army Rangers, Navy
SEALS, Airmen and Marines who engaged rebels and their Cuban advisors in
action that resulted in 19 American combat deaths and 116 American
wounded.

The crash of a U.S. Marine
helicopter on the opening day of the invasion resulted in awards of the
Navy Cross and SIX Silver Stars to U.S. Marines (three of them
Posthumously.) At least one Navy SEAL earned the Silver Star, as did one
U.S. Army (Ranger) Medic.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

This
Award

Status

Name

Branch

Navy
Cross

KIA

Seagle,
Jeb F.

USMC

Silver
Star

DeMars,
Melvin

USMC

Erskine,
Donald Kim

USN

KIA

Giguere,
Pat

USMC

Howard,
Timothy B.

USMC

Neidigh,
Kelly

USMC

KIA

Scharver,
Jeffery R.

USMC

Trujillo,
Stephen

USA

Citations

*SEAGLE,
JEB F. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy
Cross (Posthumously) to Jeb F. Seagle (237964456), Captain, U.S. Marine
Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while serving as an AH-IT
(TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter
Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine
Amphibious Unit, conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada
in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. While
conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces,
Captain Seagle's aircraft was hit by multiple anti-aircraft artillery
projectiles and forced down behind enemy lines. Having been knocked out
by the blast, Captain Seagle regained consciousness after his fellow
pilot had flown the aircraft to impact and found that his aircraft was
on fire and burning out of control. As Captain Seagle exited the front
cockpit of the Cobra, he saw that the other pilot had been critically
wounded and remained helplessly trapped in the aircraft. With complete
disregard for his own safety, Captain Seagle courageously returned to
the aircraft which was now engulfed in flames and pulled him out. As
unexpended ordnance began to cook off all around them, Captain Seagle
carried the severely wounded pilot well clear of the danger. Now exposed
to heavy enemy small arms and machinegun fire and faced with certain
death or capture, Captain Seagle ignored the danger and remained to
attend the wounds of the injured pilot by wrapping a tourniquet around
his severely bleeding arm. Realizing that enemy soldiers were
approaching, Captain Seagle fearlessly distracted them away from the
helpless pilot and ultimately sacrificed his own life in an effort to
buy time for the rescue helicopter to arrive. By his extraordinary
courage, uncommon valor, and loyal devotion to duty in the face of
danger, Captain Seagle ensured his brother-in-arms was rescued; thereby
reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life for his country.Authority: Navy Department Board of
Decorations and Medals
Home Town: Jacksonville, North Carolina

U.S. Navy

ERSKINE, DONALD KIMSynopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Silver Star Medal to Donald Kim Erskine, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while commanding an
assault element from SEAL Team SIX in support of Operation URGENT FURY
in Grenada on 25 October 1983. During early morning hours, Lieutenant
Erskine successfully secured a target within an environment of dense
enemy concentration. Determined to hold his position, he twice engaged
the enemy and eliminated their combat effectiveness, taking 10 wounded
prisoners of war without casualty to his assault element. Administering
to the enemy wounded, Lieutenant Erskine again established a defensive
perimeter. Engaged a third time by a numerically superior force, his
position came under heavy automatic weapons, RPG-7, and 20-mm. cannon
fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant
Erskine directed fire and maneuver tactics which allowed his force to
take up new positions. Although painfully wounded himself and closely
pursued by a large enemy force, he courageously directed his men in
evasion and escape maneuvers which resulted in the safe extraction of
his entire force. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and
steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger, Lieutenant Erskine
reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of
the United States Naval Service.

U.S. MARINES

DEMARS, MELVINSynopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Silver Star Medal to Melvin DeMars, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, for
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an
CH-46 Medevac Helicopter Pilot in Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO
HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit
conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of
Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. Following the destruction of
the helicopter piloted by Captain Jeb Seagle, Major DeMars flew the
medical evacuation helicopter that landed and recovered Captain Timothy
Howard from the crash site. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon
valor, and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger, Major
DeMars reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

*GIGUERE, PAT (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver
Star Medal (Posthumously) to Pat Giguere, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps,
for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an
AH-1T (TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Marine Medium Helicopter
Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine
Amphibious Unit conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in
support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. While conducting
an armed reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces, Captain
Giguere's wingman was hit by multiple anti-aircraft artillery
projectiles and forced down behind enemy lines. With full knowledge of
their vulnerability as a single aircraft without a wingman's protective
cover and with total disregard for their own safety, Captain Giguere and
his Co-Pilot exposed their aircraft to heavy anti-aircraft artillery
fire while engaging enemy ground forces and preventing the certain
capture of the helpless and gravely wounded crew. Requesting assistance
from a rescue aircraft and organizing the rescue attempt, Captain
Giguere and his Co-Pilot fearlessly continued to engage the
anti-aircraft emplacements that encircled the zone protecting the more
vulnerable rescue aircraft and buying enough time to effect a successful
rescue. Purposely remaining behind until the rescue aircraft could
escape the enemy fire, Captain Giguere sacrificed his life after a
gallant struggle so that others might live. By his extraordinary
courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of
danger, Captain Giguere reflected great credit upon himself and upheld
the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.Home Town: Jacksonville, North Carolina

HOWARD,
TIMOTHY B.Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Silver Star Medal to Timothy B. Howard, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for
extraordinary heroism while serving as an AH-IT (TOW) Cobra Attack
Helicopter Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED
SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit, conducting
combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of Operation
URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. Captain Howard was flying a Cobra
helicopter supporting Navy SEALs who had gone in to rescue
Governor-General Paul Scoon, the British Administrative Representative
on Grenada. Captain Howard had brought his Cobra into a hover in order
to allow his Weapons Officer, Captain Jeb Seagle, to line up a shot with
a TOW missile. As they hovered the ship was bracketed by gunfire from a
ZU-23 23-mm. Anti-Aircraft gun. Shells exploded around the ship. One
shell hit the port side engine and another blasted through cockpit side.
That second shell almost severed Captain Howard's right arm and also
peppered his right leg, breaking it in a number of places. In addition,
the violet impact had knocked Captain Seagle unconscious. Captain Howard
using his functioning limbs, managed to land the aircraft in the middle
of Tanteen Field without rolling it. The force of the impact activated
the canopy release system and also woke Captain Seagle, who jumped out
of the aircraft and pulled Howard free. He then tied his helmet
communications cord around the stricken pilots arm to stop the bleeding.
Captain Howard feeling as though he was slipping away, told Captain
Seagle to leave him and save himself. Seagle refused and instead,
grabbing Howard's pistol, moved away to lure Grenadian forces, who had
begun advancing on the crash site, away from his grievously injured
pilot. While a medevac CH-46 was landing to rescue Captain Howard,
Captain Seagle was captured and executed by Grenadian forces. As the
CH-46 sped out of St. George's Harbor, the gunship covering its
withdrawal, crewed by Captain Pat Giguere and Lieutenant Jeff Scharver
was hit and plunged into the harbor. By his extraordinary courage,
uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger,
Captain Howard reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the
highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval
Service.

NEIDIGH, KELLYCitation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Silver Star Medal to Kelly Neidigh, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps,
for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a
member of the aircrew on an CH-46 Medevac Helicopter Pilot in Marine
Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261),
Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit conducting combat operations on the
Island of Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October
1983. Following the destruction of the helicopter piloted by Captain Jeb
Seagle, Staff Sergeant Neidigh rescued Captain Timothy Howard from the
crash site. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast
devotion to duty in the face of danger, Staff Sergeant Neidigh reflected
great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the
Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

*SCHARVER,
JEFFERY R. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver
Star Medal (Posthumously) to Jeffery R. Scharver, First Lieutenant, U.S.
Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while
serving as an AH-1T (TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot in Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second
Marine Amphibious Unit conducting combat operations on the Island of
Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. While
conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces,
First Lieutenant Scharver's wingman was hit by multiple anti-aircraft
artillery projectiles and forced down behind enemy lines. With full
knowledge of their vulnerability as a single aircraft without a
wingman's protective cover and with total disregard for their own
safety, First Lieutenant Scharver and his pilot exposed their aircraft
to heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire while engaging enemy ground forces
and preventing the certain capture of the helpless and gravely wounded
crew. Requesting assistance from a rescue aircraft and organizing the
rescue attempt, First Lieutenant Scharver and his pilot fearlessly
continued to engage the anti-aircraft emplacements that encircled the
zone protecting the more vulnerable rescue aircraft and buying enough
time to effect a successful rescue. Purposely remaining behind until the
rescue aircraft could escape the enemy fire, First Lieutenant Scharver
sacrificed his life after a gallant struggle so that others might live.
By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to
duty in the face of danger, First Lieutenant Scharver reflected great
credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine
Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life
for his country.Born: at Canton, Ohio
Home Town: Canton, Ohio

U.S. Army

TRUJILLO,
STEPHENSynopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Silver Star Medal to Stephen Trujillo, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Medical Aidman of the 2d Battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger), conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, near Calivigny Camp on 27 October 1983. After a U.S. helicopter was hit by ground fire and spinning out of control, collided with a second helicopter causing both crash in flames to the ground, Sergeant Trujillo ignored the danger of hostile enemy fire and the possibility of imminent explosion from the fuel tanks of either or both aircraft in order to
treat the wounded and to pull at least three of his comrades to safety. His actions
were instrumental in saving several lives, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Home Town: Boulder, Colorado